The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday, Feb. 28, edition that Echelon Partners analyst Adam Gill rates Calgary's New Stratus Energy "speculative buy" in new coverage. The Globe's David Leeder writes in the Eye On Equities column that Mr. Gill set a share target of 65 cents, which is where New Stratus closed at on Monday. Analysts on average target the shares at a lofty $1.45. Mr. Gill says in a note: "New Stratus has recently announced its entry into Venezuela, delivering on the company's core strategy of gaining exposure in Central/South America, working with NOCs (in this case PDVSA) and bringing its technical capabilities and local relationships to help drive value creation in undercapitalized assets. With that, New Stratus has acquired a 50-per-cent stake in GoldPillar International Fund, gaining 20-per-cent exposure to an onshore redevelopment opportunity. GoldPillar will hold a 40-per-cent equity position in Petrolera Vencupet (Vencupet) with Venezuela NOC, Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) holding the other 60-per-cent equity position. Vencupet will have oil production rights in five onshore fields in the eastern Venezuelan states of Anzoategui and Monagas that are ripe for reactivation."